Metal structure.



P. M. WEGE.

METAL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1908.

Patented May 3, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

iNVENTQR 9 N .Mmg, 6km

HTML-155525 mimew 2, GFAMAM c0, Fr-OTO-UT OGEA HHS, WI-SHL'JGTOH. D. c

Patented May 8, 1919.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. M. WEGE.

METAL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 11133.11, 190s.

WITNESSES Patentad May 3, 1910.

QSHEETS-SHEET 3.

P. M. WEGE.

METAL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.11,1908.

INVENTOR W IT N ESS ES ANDREW s mama co. Fnomuwocuwzps wAmnNmQN. n c

P. L WEGE.

METAL STRUCTURE.

APIELIOATION FILED MAR, 11, 1908.

Patented May 8, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SEES! 4.

II IZIII M H I IN I HUH IHH nI HHI M I I- II I I I I I I I SU I I I IU II I I HP II IIIIIIHEIIIIIII I IIIIIIIII HCHH I IHMHII I n MCI HIIIIIXIIIIIIII III HCHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IICIIIIII H? I I I I IIII IIIII IIIllII.III||I||I.II|I|IIIIII..IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII.II|IIIIInIII I I31 I II I I n I I I I I IQH MIH I I I I I I I I 12 I I I HI I I S IIH I I I II I I I I E I I mI I I I I IHI I EH IN I I I HI IH I I E I II I In H. InUMI I FIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR hlv Y WITNESSES ANDREW e GRAHAM Cc,PHOYO-UTHGGRAFHERS,WASHINGTON u :1

i like.

nnirnn srarns r irnnr orrrcn PETER M. NEGE, OF YOUNGSTOVJ'N, OHIO,AFJSIGNQB TO THE GENERAL FIREPROOFING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

IVIETAL STRUCTURE.

. Application filed March 11,

To all whom it may concern:

lle it known that 1, PETER M. ll nen, of Youngstown, in the county ofMahoning and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful improvementin Metal Structures, of which the following is afull, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- .lfigure l is a front elevationpartly in section of a door embodying my invention; Fig. is a horizontalsection of the door partly broken away; Fig. is a vertical sec tion ofthe same on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; Fig. at is a partial view of theblank showing the cut-outs for the spacers, and indicating by dottedlines the lines on which the blank is bent; Figs. 5 and G are detailviews of the keys; Fig. I is a detail view of one of the spacers; Fig. 8is a sectional view through the upper rail, showing a modified form ofthe panel with a molding applied thereto; Fig. 9 a sectional detail viewthrough one of the vertical rails; Fig. 10 is a similar view showing amodification; Jig. 11 is a section on the line Ell-XI of Fig. 12,showing a further modification; Fig. 12 is a front view of the same,partly in section; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the inner side of one ofthe metal plates constituting onehalf of the door frame of Fig. 1; Fig.1st is a detail view of a portion of the panel plate shown in Fig. 10;and Fig. 15 shows a plan view similar to Fig. 13 of a formed blankconstituting onehalf of a window sash.

My invention has relation to an improvement in the construction ofmetallic structures, such as doors, window sashes, and the A distinctivefeature of my invention is that it permits of the construction of a doorand other-articles from two main pieces of metal, in the novel mannerhereinafter described and claimed, thereby obviating the necessity ofjoints on the exposed surfaces of the door or other article. It has beencustomary heretofore in practice to construct doors, frames, etc., ofseveral separate parts, commonly called stiles and rails. which arefastened together at their junction points; whereas according to myinvention the stile and rail portions are contained in a single piece orsheet of metal without the necessity of any joint on either of the twofaces of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1910.

1368. Serial No. 420,377.

the door or frame, and the stile and rail forming sections whichconstitute the structure are united in a novel manner.

According to my invention, the two pieces of metal which are employed toform the body of the door, frame or other device, are brought togetherin a single seam which I prefer to make the edges, so that in case of adoor, no seam is visible when the door is closed. lVhen the stiles andrail members are made of separate pieces and connected by seams at theirjunction points, the joints are elements of cost and weakness, since itextremely difficult to make the joint as strong as the solid metalunless heavy reinforcing parts and rivets are employed. The use ofrivets is objectionable, in that they mar the appearance and indicatethe metallic character of the device which it is often desirable toconceal by coating and graining it in imitation of wood.

Another important consideration is that metallic bodies formed inaccordance with my invention are extremely rigid, being of greatstrength in proportion to their weight and thus reducing very largelythe costof material. This reduction of material is also of advantage,since in many cases, particu larly with doors, it is desired to have aslittle weight as possible.

Another important feature of my invention is that it provides aconstruction which is adapted to resist the action of heat and retardthe spread of fire. To this end the parts are so assembled that thestructure will not warp or spread open at the seams when subjected togreat heat.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated itsapplication to the construction of doors, and which will now bedescribed, it being promised, however, that various changes may be madein the details without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the append e d claims.

n these drawings, the numeral 2 designates the top stile of a door, andl the side rails. 5 the middle stile, and (5 the bottom stile.

7 is the upper panel.

In accordance with my invention, the

panel, and S the lower entire exterior door structure, with theexception of the two panels 7 and 8 is made from two plates or sheets ofmetal, which are pressed or otherwise shaped into channel or troughform, each constituting one-half of the structure, as clearly shown inFig. 13. The marginal portions of each sheet are bent inwardly to formthe L-shaped flanges 9, which abut each other under the stiles or rails,as shown. Placed within the hollow stiles and rails thus formed atsuitable intervals, are the reinforcing and key plates 10, which areformed with slots or openings 11 being adjacent to the inwardly bentL-shaped flanges which are slitted or cut away to receive the plates.

12 and 13 designate locking bars or keys, which secure the two parts ofthe structure together, these bars or keys being driven bothlongitudinally and transversely through the several rails or stiles andthrough the slots 11 of the plates 10 at opposite sides of the abuttedL-shaped flanges 9, as clearly shown in the drawings. Thus, by referenceto Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that two of these locking bars or keysare driven through each vertical rail at both the inner and outer edgesthereof, while two similar but shorter keys are driven transverselythrough the top, middle, and bottom stiles. The keys 12 are formed withthe beveled portions 12 which as clearly shown in Fig. 3, engage withthe walls of the slots 11 with a wedging action to thereby draw and holdthe two members of the structure closely together. l0 designate shortreinforcements which further connect and strengthen the construction atthe upper and lower forward corner portions thereof.

Fig. 4 shows a View of a portion of a blank from which one of themembers of the structure is made, the dotted lines indicating the lineson which the blank is bent, and the slits or cuts shown at 141 being theslits or cuts for the plates 10.

Each of the panels 7 and S, in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is alsocomposed of two plates bent into trough or channel form, with their lipsor flanges 15 turned outwardly and into hooked engagement with bentedges 16 of the securing plates 17 which fit against the inner faces ofthe adjacent stiles or rails, with their inner edges turned inwardlybetween the L-shaped flanges 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. When thekeys 12 and 13 are driven in place, these securing plates 17 are firmlyclamped between the L-shaped flanges 9 and the panel plates are therebysecurely held. The members 17 may be made to form beads or moldings.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8, the panel 18 consists of a singleplate having its edge portions extending into a hollow molding 19, theedges being split and turned in opposite directions to form the flanges20, which fit within the molding. The molding is formed of two similarpieces of sheet metal bent to a desired form, with their outer edgesbent at right angles and brought together between the L-shaped flanges 9of the main door sections, as shown at 21., the edge portions thereofbeing bent outwardly behind the short members of the flanges 9 as shownat 22.

Fig. 8 shows the manner of connecting the panels and the molding to theupper stile, its connection with the middle stile, and with the bottomstile, in the case of the lower panel, being made in a similar manner.

Fig. 9 shows the manner of connecting the central panel and molding tothe vertical rails, being in all respects similar to the manner ofconnecting them to the stiles.

Fig. 10 shows a further modification in which the edges of the panel 18instead of being cut and bent in both directions, are bent in onedirection only, as shown at 23, with a securing lip 23 (Fig. 14) whicheX- tends into the adjacent rail or stile.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the inner edge of thesingle panel plate 18 is carried through the molding into the interiorof the adjacent rails or stiles, passing between the inwardly extendingportions of the molding and between the L- shaped flanges of the mainsections, as shown at 24. In the modification shown in these figures,the spacing and key plates 10 are omitted, and instead of using key-rodsor bars of the form shown in Figs 5 and 6, the parts are secured by thekey members 25 in the form of sleeves, consisting of pieces of metalhaving their edge portions bent around to engage over the short membersof the L-shaped flanges, as clearly shown in Fig. 11, these keys beinginserted through openings 26 at the edge portions of the structure. Inorder to provide the hinge edge of the door with a reinforcement toenable it to carry these hinges, the key members at its side may be madelarger and of the form shown at 27 in Figs. 2, 9 and 10, with theinterior reinforcing strips 28 having the bent edge portions 29 which.are engaged by these keys. These keys materially reinforce thehinge-carrying edge of the door.

In assembling the parts which compose, for instance, a door, I prefer tofirst lay on the floor or other support the formed blank whichconstitutes one-half of the structure (see Fig. 13) with its innersurface up. For convenience, this blank may be termed the under memberof the structure, and the other and complementary formed blank, theupper member. I next place in position in the under member the severalkey and reinforcing plates 10 and insert the iii keys which engage themin this member. I also lay in place the panel and molding piecespreparatory to placing the upper member in place. This upper member isnow laid upon the under member, and the remaining keys are driven in,suitable apertures similar to the apertures 26 above referred to beingprovided at the edges of the structure through which they are driven.The keys which engage the intermediate rails between the panels must, ofcourse, be driven first, being drifted into their final positions shownin Fig. 1; since if the keys in the stiles were driven first, they wouldobstruct the driving of the first-named keys. The rail keys may,however, be cut in two and one-half driven from each end edge of thestructure, but this is not so desirable. The particular mode ofassembling is not essential, and will naturally vary with differentstructures, but is given only as an illustration of a method by whichthe parts may be conveniently and quickly brought together. Theapertures at the edges of the structure through which the keys areinserted and driven may be closed when the structure has been assembled,either by plug ging and soldering, or in any other known manner.

The application of my invention to the construction of door and windowframes,

window sashes, partitions and various other articles will be taken fromthe foregoing. In each case the article is formed from two metallicplates or sheets having their edge portions bent in the manner shown andsecured by locking members or keys engaging he flanges formed by thebending, panels between the rails or stiles being used or not, accordingto the nature of the structure.

In Fig. 15 I have shown one of the members or shaped blanks 31 whichwould constitute one-half of a window frame constructed in accordancewith by invention.

While I have shown the abutted inturned flanges of the sections as beingof L-shape, this is not essential, since the short lips of these flangescan be omitted when keys such as shown in Figs. 1 to 10 are employed.The term abutted as used herein and in the claims is intended to applyto cases in which these flanges are not only in actual abutting contact,but also in those cases in which they are separated by an interveningportion of either the panel or the molding. It will also be obvious thatif, for any reason, either from the size of the parts, or otherwise, itis desirable to make the complete structure in sections, this may bedone, the sections being constructed in accordance with my invention andjoined in any suitable manner. I prefer, however, wherever possible, toavoid this. It will also be understood that while, in some structures,such as doors, it is eX- tremely desirable to form the joints at theedges, these joints may be formed at other places.

The key plates 10 materially strengthen and stiffen the structure, beingshaped in each case to fit snugly within the complementary mainsections. here the keys are made to form reinforcements, as shown at thehinge edge of the door-structure of Fig. 2, these plates may beshortened to terminate adjacent to the reinforcing keys, as shown insaid figure. Said plates may be entirely dispensed with, but their useis preferable.

The hollow rails or stiles together with the hollow panels, where panelsformed of double plates are use, may be left unfilled as shown, or theymay be filled with any suitable heat-resisting material.

The moldings at the edges of the panels may be of any desired form; andvarious other changes may be made in the details of construction andarrangement without dc parting from the spirit and scope of my invention, since What I claim is:

1. A metallic frame structure, composed of two abutted, complementary,plates or sheets having rail and stile portions, and constituting theentire frame structure, said plates or sheets having inturned flanges atthe edges of each of the rail and stile members, and key members driventhrough the rail and stile members and engaging said flanges to securethe two plates or sheets together, said key members extending verticallyof the stiles and horizontally of the rails, and some of said membersbeing extended into the corners of the structure so as to be common toboth the rails and the stiles; substantially as described.

2. ii metallic frame structure, composed of two abutted,eomplen'ientary, plates or sheets having rail and stile portions, andconstituting the entire frame structure, said plates or sheets havinginturned flanges at the edges of each of the rail and stile portions,and key members driven through the rail and stile members and engagingsaid flanges to secure the two plates or sheets together, said keymembers extending verti- *ally of the stiles anti horizontally of therails, and some of the vertical key members extending substantially thefull thickness of the interior of the structure to form a solidreinforcement for an edge of the structure; substantially described.

Si metallic frame structure, composed of two abutted, complementary,plates or sheets having rail and stile portions, and constituting theentire frame structure, said. plates or sheets having inturned flangesat the edges of each of the rail and stile portions, and, key membersdriven through the rail and stile members and engaging said flanges tosecure the two plates or sheets together, said key members extendingvertically of the stiles and horizontally of the rails, and some of saidkeys having wedge portlons within the structure, together with memberswhich are engaged by said portions to lock the keys; substantially asdescribed.

a. A metallic frame structure, composed of two abutted, complementary,plates or sheets having rail and stile portions, and constituting theentire frame structure, said plates or sheets having inturned flanges atthe edges of each of the rail and stile portions, and key members driventhrough the rail and stile members and engaging said flanges to securethe two plates or sheets together, said key members extending verticallyof the stiles and horizontally of the rails, and some of said membersbeing extended into the corners of the structure so as to be common toboth the rails and the stiles, together with moldings having portionsextending into the structure and also secured by the keys; substantiallyas described.

5. A metallic frame structure, composed of two abutted, complementary,plates or sheets having rail and stile portions, and constituting theentire frame structure, said plates or sheets having inturned flanges atthe edges of each of the rail and stile portions, and key members driventhrough the rail and stile members and engaging said flanges to securethe two plates or sheets together, said key members extending verticallyof the stiles and horizontally of the rails, the keys at the outer edgesof the structure being extended into the corners of the structure tosubstantially meet each other; substantially as described.

6. A metallic structure, consisting of two metal plates or sheets shapedinto trough form and abutted to form hollow rails and stiles withabutted interior flange portions, spacing and key plates within thehollow stiles and rails and having slots therein, and key members driventhrough the slots of the said plates upon opposite sides of the abuttedflange portions; substantially as described.

7. A metallic structure, consisting of two metal plates or sheets shapedinto trough form and abutted to form hollow rails and stiles withabutted interior flange portions, spacing and key plates within thehollow stiles and rails and having slots therein, and key members driventhrough the slots of the said plates upon opposite sides of the abuttedflange portions, one key of each pair having cam or wedge portionssubstantially as described.

8. A metallic structure composed of two sheets or plates fitted togetherwith their joints at the edges of the structure, and forming a framecomposed of hollow rails and stiles, the meeting portions of the twoplates having abutted L-shaped flanges extending within the interiors ofthe ralls and stiles, and key members extending vertically andtransversely through the rails and stiles and having a lockingengagement with said flange portions; together with spacing memberswithin the hollow rails and stiles and having apertures for the keys,substantially as described.

9. A metallic structure consisting of two metal plates or sheets shapedand fitted together to form a frame having hollow stiles and rails, themeeting edges of the two plates being extended inwardly into theinteriors of the rails and stiles in the form of flanges, and keymembers engaging said flanges, one set of key members extendingvertically within the vertical rails and stiles, and another set of keymembers extending horizontally through the horizontal rails and stiles;together with spacing members Within the hollow rails and stiles andhaving apertures for the keys, substantially as described.

10. A metallic frame structure, composed of two abutted, complementary,plates or sheets having rail and stile portlons, and constituting theentire frame structure, said plates or sheets having inturned flanges atthe edges of each of the rail and stile portions, and key members driventhrough the rail and stile members and engaging said flanges to securethe two plates or sheets together, said key members extending verticallyof the stiles and horizontally of the rails, and some of said membersbeing extended into the corners of the structure so as to be common toboth the rails and the stiles, together with moldings having portionsextending into the structure and also secured by the keys, and panelmembers extending into the moldings; substantially as described.

11. In a sheet-metal structure, the combination with two complementaryside portions with edge portions flanged to abut each other, a keyengaging the flanges thereof to fasten the parts together, a panelhaving a bent edge, and a molding engaging the bent edge of the paneland securing it in place; substantially as described.

12. In a sheet-metal structure, the combination with the 'frame composedof the abutted complementary flanged plates, of molding strips havingeach an edge flange engaging and secured to the said plates, and a panelhaving flanged edge portions secured within the molding strips;substantially as described.

13. In a sheet-metal structure, the combi nation with two complementaryplates fitted together to form a hollow frame, and having flanged edgessecured to each other within the frame, a molding strip having an edgeportion engaged by the flanged edges of the said plates, reinforcing andkey plates with- I in the hollow frame, and key members passing throughsaid plates and engaging said flanged edges to secure the partstogether; substantially as described.

ll. A metallic door frame composed of two metal plates or sheets ofcomplemental form shaped and fitted together to form the entire frame ofthe door, including the side rails and upper, lower and middle stiles,and means entirely contained within the interior of the rails and stileswhich engage and unite the said plates or sheets; substantially asdescribed.

15. Rt metallic door frame composed of two metal plates or sheets 01con'iplemental form shaped and fitted together to form the entire frameof the door, including the side rails and upper, lower and middlestiles, and means entirely contained within the interior of the railsand stiles which engage and unite the said plates or sheets, the ointsbetween I members engaging the said plates or sheets being at the edgesof the structure, and the securing means forming reinforcements for suchedges; substantially as described.

16. In a metallic structure of the character described, the combinationwith complementary shaped blanks or sections having abutting interiorflanges, and together forming a complete frame structure having hollowstile and rail members, spacing plates within the stile and railmembers, and key :aid flanges and securing the blanks or sectionstogether, said key members also engaging the spacing plates;substantially described.

In testimony whereof. I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER H. XVEGE.

Witnesses H. E. dnrrn, H. R. GLENN.

